Sen. Joey Hensley

Maddy summarySB 1718 designates November 2nd of each year as "James K. Polk Day" in Tennessee, honoring the 11th U.S. President who was born in North Carolina but moved to Tennessee as a child and served as Tennessee's governor. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, to add this annual observance to the state's list of designated days of special significance. It does not create new laws or obligations; it simply establishes a symbolic recognition of Polk's service to Tennessee and the U.S. This commemorative measure affects all Tennesseans by designating a specific date for observance.

Maddy summarySB 1942 designates the third Sunday in June of each year as "Fathers' Day" in Tennessee. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, to formally establish this day of observance in state law. It does not create new obligations or change existing policies, but aligns Tennessee's recognition with the national observance date for Fathers' Day. The designation applies to state agencies and official communications, honoring fathers' roles in families without altering other legal requirements.

Maddy summarySB 990 requires Tennessee's Office of Employment Verification Assistance to create and publish an annual report using existing resources. The report must detail the number of employers the office enrolled in E-Verify or checked for work authorization status on their behalf. This bill amends Tennessee Code sections related to labor and workforce development to implement this reporting requirement. The mandate takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies directly to the state office managing these verification services.

Maddy summarySB 2482 allows physicians in Tennessee to submit required abortion reports electronically to the commissioner of health, instead of on paper. This bill amends multiple sections of Tennessee law (including Title 39) to add electronic submission as a permitted method for the existing reporting requirement. The change applies to physicians who perform abortions and must file these reports after the procedure. It does not alter the content, timing, or necessity of the reports - only the submission method.

Maddy summarySB 2409 prohibits state employees and political subdivisions from displaying LGBTQ flags or emblems (like rainbow or transgender flags) on state property or during work hours, and bans recognizing June as "Pride Month" or similar LGBTQ commemorative periods. It allows private citizens to sue state employees for violations, seeking damages for emotional distress and other remedies. Exceptions explicitly protect off-duty conduct and First Amendment-protected speech. The bill affects all state government operations and employees working on state property.

Maddy summarySB 2311 requires Tennessee municipalities to obtain county legislative body approval before annexing territory. It mandates municipalities to submit a financial impact study (covering infrastructure, schools, and taxpayer costs) and a statement proving service capacity (water, roads, police, etc.) to the county. Counties must review these documents within 60 days, and if they don’t approve within 90 days, the annexation is automatically denied. The bill excludes small annexations of five acres or less and does not override existing interlocal agreements.

Maddy summarySB 2002 limits property tax increases for Tennessee counties, municipalities, and other local taxing entities. It prohibits total property tax revenue from exceeding the previous year's total plus 2%, with exceptions for new construction and bonds issued before July 1, 2026. To exceed this 2% cap, local governments must hold a referendum requiring 60% voter approval, specify the tax amount and purpose, and limit increases to four years. The law applies to all local tax jurisdictions and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 1943 designates September 10 of each year as "Charlie Kirk Day" in Tennessee to honor the late Charles Kirk, a public figure who co-founded Turning Point USA and was assassinated in 2025. The bill amends Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 15, Chapter 2, to add this day to the state's calendar of special observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or affect any legal rights or obligations. This is a purely ceremonial designation with no substantive policy impact.

Maddy summarySB 1407 would amend Tennessee law to allow the use of deadly force to protect property, such as preventing burglary, theft, or damage to livestock, under specific conditions. It directly affects property owners and occupants who face intruders or property crimes. Key changes include lowering the standard for deadly force (requiring only a reasonable belief that force is necessary to stop the crime), defining "deadly force" to exclude merely displaying or brandishing a weapon, and updating legal references to include property protection under self-defense statutes. The bill would not permit deadly force if less lethal options are available to protect the property or if the force used wouldn’t cause death or serious injury.

Maddy summarySJR 659 proposes a constitutional amendment to Tennessee's Constitution that would establish a right for citizens to carry firearms in public without a permit. It would delete the current constitutional language allowing the legislature to regulate the wearing of arms to prevent crime and replace it with a provision stating citizens have a right to keep and bear arms without a permit. If approved by voters, this change would make permitless carry the constitutional standard for public firearm carrying in Tennessee, directly affecting all residents who carry firearms. The amendment requires legislative approval and voter ratification to take effect.